hapter 119
+15 BONUS
Chapter 119
Summer’s POV
We drove away from Silver Creek territory in tense silence.
My heart still raced from the confrontation with Foster, but even more from the shocking revelation that had occurred. My wolf Aurora was back, and she had recognized Alexander as our true mate.
I stole a glance at his profile as he drove, strong hands gripping the steering wheel, jaw set in concentration. How had I not realized it sooner? The pull I’d felt toward him from our first meeting suddenly made perfect sense.
“Alexander, you-”
Alexander’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You’re going to ask if I knew we were mates?”
I nodded slowly.
He exhaled, then turned the SUV onto a secluded turnout overlooking the valley. After cutting the engine, he turned to face me, his gaze steady but unreadable.
“I didn’t know,” he said quietly. “Not for sure. Not until just now.”
My eyes widened. “Then why do you look so… calm?”
A soft huff of breath escaped him, almost like a laugh. “Because in my heart, I already chose you a long
time ago, Summer.”
“But even without the bond, I already saw you as my mate. I didn’t need a wolf’s confirmation to know I’d
wait for you.”
I stared at him, emotions warring in my chest. “But you never said anything.”
“Look at what you were going through, Summer,” he said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from my face. “You were traumatized, grieving your son, escaping an abusive marriage.”
“I didn’t want to confuse you–or pressure you–with what I was feeling.”
Tears welled in my eyes. While Foster had only ever seen me as a possession, Alexander had respected my need to heal, putting my wellbeing above his own desires.
“I wanted you to find your strength again,” he continued. “To choose me because you wanted to.
“1
The tenderness in his eyes made my breath catch. Without thinking, I slid across the center console into his lap, straddling him.
“Summer…” His voice was strained, hands automatically finding my hips.
1/3
Chapter 19
+15 BONUS
I leaned in, brushing my lips against his ear. “I want you, Alexander. Bond or no bond.”
His eyes, normally a steely gray, had darkened to stormy charcoal. The Alpha in him was barely restrained as he growled low in his throat. “You’re playing with fire, little wolf.”
“Show me,” I challenged.
His mouth crashed down on mine, hungry and demanding. The kiss was nothing like the tentative ones we’d shared before–this was possession, claiming, the mate bond between us singing with rightness.
My wolf, Aurora, howled in triumph inside me, reveling in our reunion and in finding our true mate after so much pain.
His hands slid under my blouse, thumbs brushing over sensitive peaks through the thin fabric of my bra. I gasped into his mouth, my body responding instantly to his touch.
“I want you, Alexander,” I whispered, feeling myself growing wet for him.
“Gods, I need you too,” Alexander groaned against my lips. “But not here. Not like this.”
“Why not?” I interrupted, “Isn’t it exciting?” I began stroking his rock–hard length through his pants.
He growled, the sound vibrating through his chest as his hips involuntarily bucked against my touch.” You have no idea what you do to me,” he rasped, his fingers digging into my hips.
A sudden thud against the side of the SUV made us both freeze.
“What was “I began, but Alexander’s hand was already covering my mouth, his entire demeanor shifting from passionate lover to deadly predator in an instant.
“We’re under attack,” he whispered, reaching beneath his seat to pull out a sleek handgun. “Stay down.”
The windows on my side suddenly shattered, showering us with glass. A clawed hand reached through the opening, grasping for me.
Alexander reacted with blinding speed, slamming the butt of his gun into the wrist until I heard bones crack. A howl of pain followed.
“Twenty, maybe more,” Alexander muttered, clearly counting our attackers. “Rogues by the scent of them.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed. “Summer, stay in the car. I can handle this.”
Fear gripped me as memories of being defenseless flashed through my mind. But I wasn’t that woman anymore. My wolf was back, and I refused to cower.
I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan, Alexander’s Beta. “We’re under attack,” I whispered urgently when he answered. “About twenty rogues. We need backup now.”
Then I demanded to Alexander.“Give me a weapon.I’m not sitting here helpless while you fight alone,” I
2/3
Chapter 119
insisted. “I can help.”
+15 BONUS
For a moment, I thought he would argue, but another bang against the SUV made the decision for him. He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a smaller handgun.
“Silver bullets,” he explained quickly. “Aim for center mass. One shot should incapacitate them.”
I nodded, gripping the weapon with more confidence than I felt. It had been years since my father had taught me to shoot, but some skills never truly disappeared.
“Stay behind me,” Alexander ordered as he pushed his door open, creating a barrier between us and our
attackers.
